Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2004
Album Summary
Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus is the thirteenth studio album by the Australian alternative rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 20 September 2004 on Mute Records. It is a double album of seventeen songs.
WikipediaA fun-sucker whose big ideas - as suggested by the title and horrifying run time of this one - are limited to the morbidly dramatic and lyrically mirthless. I didn't find a single line to grab on to. Occasionally the looming morbidity is effective - thuds reverberating in a tomb - but most of the time it feels like a 6-part documentary delivered entirley to camera by a single sad presenter. Docked a point for taking up so much of my life.
I really like Nick but the last album of his I got was in the late 90s. This is really quite good. He starts out by kicking you in the teeth - I'd be disappointed if he didn't. The shift from the Abattoir to the Orpheus disc is hard to miss as the string of ballads floats out. I prefer that he did this rather than mix the ballads amongst the charged up tunes. It's reminiscent of the many Buddha Bar double CD releases that labelled one CD "dinner" and the other "dance". You might be in the mood for Nick's ballads one night so you can choose the disc that gives this. And if you're in the mood for a kick in the teeth, Disc 1 is waiting.
Split into two parts, a greatly enjoyable collection of songs. Favorites are Get Ready for Love, Hiding All Away, Breathless, Babe, You Turn Me On, Easy Money, Supernatually, Carry Me & O Children.
Interesting concept album. Fees evergreen style-wise; alt/classic rock feel, dark vocals. Hits hard but not too gritty.
An amazing double album. So nice to remind myself of it’s greatness. Nick’s voice is incredible and the range of tracks, lyrics and vocals are second to none. I’ve previously heard ‘My Beautiful World’ described as the most perfect track ever recorded. It’s hard to argue against that.
Wow. The first time I've ever really connected with him. Tastefully loud, full of energy perfectly arranged, beautiful harmonies, very weird but very cool lyrics. It's all beginning to make sense.
Wow! Wasn't sure on first hearing, but by the third play I was hooked. Well worth investing some time into this. Almost avant-garde but still proper musicality. Brilliant.
Im currently convinced that Nick Cave can do no wrong. Im always amazed by his ability to create powerful moods with his music.
I love music that feels raw and passionate. There's such a draw to stuff like Amy Winehouse's black album or Adele's 19 or even some Johnny Cash where you can feel the pain the artist brings from their real life into the song. I'm not going to find myself singing any of these songs while doing the dishes, but listening to songs 2-4 is an experience you can feel in your soul. Music like this demands that you turn it up, close your eyes, and imagine yourself in a dark living room clutching a rocks glass of bourbon on the last night of your life. It's perfect for solo listening through headphones at volumes that will permanently damage your hearing. And you should, you should feel permanently damaged by this passion behind dark and brooding music.
This was really unexpected (and I found to be quite unique). Sort of reminds me of Xiu Xiu, but less despair. While it's not my favourite, I highly recommend giving it a listen, and for that alone, I'm rating it a 5.
Glorious, melodramatic, soaked in all kinds of gospel, from the euphoric to the hellfire & brimstone. Fave Track - "O Children", though I resent Harry Potter using it in the soundtrack 😠
No puedo escribir mucho de este álbum, sino que creo que es hermoso, en varios sentidos, de principio a fin (hablo de los dos discos). La voz de Nick Cave siempre me ha parecido fabulosa y aquí hay tantos moods, pero con una especie de cohesión. Mis favoritas diría que son "Hiding All Away", "Abattoir Blues", "Let the Bells Ring" y "O Children". Me hace falta escucharlo más y con más atención para cachar más de las letras. 10/10
ебааать, как охуенно... Это всё, чем Коэн должен был стать, обзаведясь полноценной электро-группой. Пока что, думаю, самый охуенный альбом из подборки. Причём он вообще не должен быть таким на бумаге. Ну типа это ебаный рак музыки — двойной альбом, при этом звук у всех инструментов почти всегда одинаковый, вокал тоже не шибко разнообразный, женские бэки одни и те же во всех треках. Но бля, как же идеально нащупана формула (к 13 альбому-то), что можно слушать полтора часа один и тот же звук и не уставать. Помимо Коэна сравнил бы с уже упомянутыми разок Swans, но только абсолютно лисенер-френдли (что немного абсурд, но я так чувствую), есть вот эта арт-энергия, но без песен по полчаса, балдеж же. Также, судя по всему, пластинка идёт в копилку альбомов, которые просто охуенно слушать, бродя по ночному городу (наряду с, например, You'd Prefer an Astronaut от Hum и Le troisième choix от Agora Fidelio). Вообще у меня создалась такая концепция альбома, что он начинается как будто вечером, проходит через фазу ночи и примерно в начале второго диска перетекает в утро, но всё-таки последние песни (особенно божественные Easy Money и Supernaturally) немного сбивают впечатление. Хз даже, что ещё говорить, оче мощная работа (хотя, конечно, под настроение). Ник Кейв в принципе был одним из исполнителей, ради которого я пошёл на этот эксперимент с альбомами, так как ранее его работ не слышал (только Джанкъярд мельком), и это был отличный повод. Ну хули, сыграла ставочка. 10/10
Another artist I’d been meaning to check out for years. I was way more into this than I was expecting. I like how each “disc” has its own distinct feel.
Not only is this the first time I got an artist twice, but in the same week too! And I'm a big Nick Cave fan so this is perfect. Another really great album
I had heard O’Children before, but damn Nick Cave is pretty awesome. 5/5
pretty good I have to say, it's a bit hard to listen to but in a good way. It's like one of those parties that make you uncomfortable cause everyone is doing drugs and making out, but its also very very interesting, and everyone is open and accepting.
Hard to categorize. Old fashioned. It’s like gospel for disaffected atheists and agnostics. Nick Cave has amazing voice. Makes monotone sound interesting. GREAT lyrics. “I dunno what art is, but I know what I like. And I like this.”
Amazing production depth, with gospel tinged backing vocals and guitars at the fore, and drums quite in the background. Nick has an uncanny ability to change gears on the feel mid flight, like when that chorus kicks in on "There She Goes, My Beautiful World". AndRIP Conway - nice to hear you twinkling the ivories in there.
A stunning album - I was bowled over. I was expecting a maudlin, moody, introspective album of ballads and whilst there is a bit of that on the second side, this is an energetic, toe tapping, bluesy record which sounds fantastic - like they are being chased by demons and have to get this music out fast! The gospel backing is wonderful and the band just sounds phenomenal jamming together. I think it’s a five star album. A classic.
Love it! This was actually my first Nick Cave & Bad Seeds record. This is a classic in my book. I forget how good this record is from time to time but it's so great from top to bottom. Glad it made the list.
I was skeptic on Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, but after listening to this album I’m pleasantly surprised: there are some great songs (There she goes, Lyre of Orpheus, Hiding all Away, Carry me) and the general level of this album is very high. Happy that I took the time to listen to this album, although I dread Nick’s songwriting on Ghosteen.
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Get ready for love, Cannibal’s hymn, There she goes, my beautiful world, Carry me, O children
The debate is whether to award this four or five stars. Yes, that requires explanation. Here, we have a double album, or perhaps more accurately two albums in one package. The first, Abattoir Blues, despite the Grand Guignol name, is a full-blooded rock 'n roll, bluesy stomp of a record. The first album also benefits from an uncommon quality in rock: it's got a sense of humour. The opener Get Ready For Love raucously juxtaposes Christian expression with rockstar strutting. Hiding All Away has the very chucklesome verse: You searched through all my poets From Sappho through to Auden I saw the book fall from your hands As you slowly died of boredom The worst fault you could say about the first album is that there are touches of filler (Nature Boy, the first single, didn't really raise my skirt), but that smacks of nitpicking. The second album, The Lyre of Orpheus, is a softer, more delicate work, with more acoustic numbers, but of equally high quality as the first. Whereas the first invigorates, the second beguiles. Indeed, the second's stock consists of sincere, sometimes plaintive, sometimes jaunty love songs (the video to Breathless has Nick Cave dancing with cartoon toy rabbits). And again, the nitpick is over the occasional track being somewhat fillersome. So what does this mean in the final summary? Are these albums to be assessed as two great albums in a twofer? Two great single works that don't really fuse together? A quintessential case of a double album missing true greatness by a cat's pube just out of its overlong nature? Fuck it, I'll be generous. Five stars it is. (And yes, the star system for rating anything is moronic, especially stars).
Powerful and sentimental. This has by far become my favorite Nick Cave project. The choir, the strings, Nicks singing, the perfect playing, everything works so well to creature this dramatical and emotional piece. Highy recommended!
18th November 2021 Started on the way to meeting Harry in Covent Garden before seeing a show at the donmar (rubbish) finished on Saturday on the way to meet sav for golf in battersea Park. This is sumptuous. Dark, gothic, gospel, bluesy, unbelievable. Nick cave has an ability to stretch his music through time, it sounds like something that ancient Greeks would have listened to.
Great album. Abattoir Blues is slightly better part than The Lyre of Orpheus.
Nick Cave knows how to deliver, I’ve heard The Boatman’s Call, No More Shall We Part, and now this gem of an album it was a lot more upbeat than I expected, the other two were kinda slow and sweet all three of these albums are 10/10 tho I really love this guy, he has such a sweet sound, I can’t wait to hear more of his stuff
I already listen to about Nick Cave, but I never got the hype on his work and never understood why he is so appreciated. From now on, this album made my mind and I got everything. It's so strong and powerful that I understood exactly all the hype around. I'll keep my radar open for Nick Cave now and I'll also recommend it to everyone. The second part of the album is a little bit repetitive and too much longer for a perfect record, but the first part compensates for any possible "error".
Such a great album. My favorite of his musically. Of course Cave's lyrical magic is here as usual and this time the music is just as magical. The songs are accessible with loads of hooks and some of his most memorable melodies. This is the album that could make a fan of a no -fan. 5 🌟
Largely brilliant, veering from deranged gospel to sensitive ballads, all dripping with personality and menace. When it works it's amazing, just as with most double albums, no matter how good they are they tend to drag on and overstay their welcome. I'm left thinking it could have been one of the great single albums, but I'm not quite sure what should have been left out.
Abattoir Blues sits on The Lyre of Orpheus like a chair, but it's a very nice chair. An albums (?) that I'll be going back to.
An album of two halves. The first half is back-to-back bangers. The second more moody/reflective/Cave-like. Ends on a cracking high. The best of the Bad Seeds so far.
One of the best albums ever made and the showcase of everything Nick Cave has to over.
I wasn't impressed with the first song, but as I kept listening the album really grew on me. It's very tight and the lyrics are poetic. The performance is dramatic and very enjoyable. By the end of the album, I loved it.
L'album le plus sous-côté de Nick Cave Prefs: Cannibal's Hymn, There She Goes, My Beautiful World, Nature Boy, Abattoir Blues, The Lyre of Orpheus, Breathless, Supernaturally, O Children Moins pref: Fable of the Brown Ape
Great upbeat background music that you suddenly find yourself dancing and singing to. Full sound with choir. Great album. High quality.
Nick Cave continues to be the vampire bandleader we need, and not the vampire bandleader we deserve. This whole double album is stellar. I liked it more than Murder Ballads. Not every song is a classic, but if I gave MB a 4, then I guess this one's a 5. Nearly 500 albums in my rating system is all fucked up. But I'm happy to be here with my vampire friend.
This time I am giving it five stars because I really like it, and not just because I respect the artist's work too much to take any stars from it. But I also truly respect the work to put this album together. What a blast.
Nick Cave is a name I've heard a lot and I've never heard a single song. I also saw just last weekend, he lost his 2nd son which is very tragic. Going in I had no idea what to expect, but I was thinking it would be kind of an Indie/Alternative type album. He's more of a crooner, with a strong backing band in the Bad Seeds. The cacaphony of sound that comes up in quite a few songs, aggressive instrumentals behind a baritone voice, it all comes together really well. I really liked this, I didn't add anything to the playlist since it's a bit intense but I would definitely revisit and check more of his discography.
I sure enjoyed this album. I actually listened to it twice and paid more attention to the lyrics on the second listen. I feel like I went to church, attended a protest, had a reality check (especially with the song that had the frappuccino line). I'm glad to be reminded of Nick Cave because I really haven't listened to him much although I knew him from the theme song on Peaky Blinders. I'm definitely going to listen to the rest of his albums. I also really like the vocals with the choir.
Absolute beauty - I have a lovely special edition of this in a decorative sleeve
a big fan of Nick Cave this is one of my fave albums and probably the only successful double album I've encountered on this book/app thang so far. I've got it on cd one is pink the other yellow. Nick takes us to hell and back again, in what is quite an expansive album. What I love about Nick is his storytelling, so visceral and compelling. weirdly I sometimes don't think of it as music, but more poetry stories put to music, but that's wrong they are integral to both. and each song is a story, from the menancing fable and lyre of orpheus to the majestic beautiful world. The songs explore finite and nuanced worlds with humour, darkness and pathos in equal measure. The music acts as the driving force for these stories, weird instruments and driving guitars create a sound that simple yet complicated, discordant yet melodic. like Nick Cave its contradictions that makes it so wonderful.
Never heard a Nick Cave album before but I enjoyed the fusion of raucous and menacing instrumental backing mixed with gospel tinged backing vocals. He's not the greatest singer but he knows his range and his gruff style suits the shady material on this dense, well produced album. Lyrics are forebodingly romantic. The music on the latter disc is a much more subtle, mellow affair. All in all, it's a solid double album of two sides and a very enjoyable record.
Very much a toe dipper in the world of Nick Cave, I like what I hear but not delved into the albums. So why not start with a double album, yeah. First track is surprisingly raucous, though I know he's got that side clearly, Birthday Party, Grinderman. And it's great. Few tracks in, loving the vibe. Oh my god, There She Goes my Beautiful World, how have I never heard this before, this is fuckin ace. Nature Boy I have heard and it's fabulous. This is so great. Second half sounds different but still has some bangers, Spell being the most obvious, just wonderful. So at the end of it, happily knew several tracks so I've not been totally missing out, but what a great, warm album, altogether. Going on the list.
Kan ik ook 6 sterren geven? Dit is echt mijn favoriete Nick Cave plaat, en zelfs een van de beste albums die ik ken. Staat geen slecht nummer op, en dat voor een dubbel-album. Fantastisch!
Dit is de reden dat ik elke dag benieuwd ben naar een nieuw plaatje: Geweldig dubbel album van Nick Cave. Ik kende alleen Let love in, maar deze is misschien nog wel beter.
This is a joy to listen to, all the more because I have not heard much Nick Cave previously. Such a strong set of songs, instantly memorable, diverse, intelligent intriguing lyrics, superbly backed up by the music. I will definitely be buying some Nick Cave vinyl!
My favourite Nick Cave album. Gorgeous song after gorgeous song. Beautiful melodies, tastefully simple near perfect arrangements including backing vocals. And of course Nick Cave's beautiful lyrics. 5 🌟
I’m a fan. Dark and brooding but somehow euphoric uplifting and catchy. I’m glad this project made me listen to this, I wouldn’t have done without being encouraged.
After enduring The Birthday Party and Murder Songs, Nick Cave is not an artist I wanted to listen to again. A DOUBLE ALBUM to have to listen to this time is not welcome news. Turns out that I do not loathe this, in fact I think I love it! These songs rock with interesting lyrics and great backing vocals. Some of the love songs are surprisingly tender - hadn’t expected that. The two albums are distinct - I love the rock and roll first album and the gospel feel of the second. Really nice combination. I keep wanting to give this a 4 because of the traumas of past albums. But if I disregard the terrible taste left in my ears from the previous two Nick Cave albums this double album is a 5!
At 83 minutes, this double album didn't leave a lot of time for multiple listens but my response to my first listen is Wow! This is epic! I love the addition of the female backing vocals, which help provide a gospel church atmosphere. Again, it's a long album and I had so many thoughts and feelings that I can't recall many of the specifics. But overall I really enjoyed this.
I'd listened to a bit of Nick Cave before (Red Right Hand, Stagger Lee), but not a whole lot. I am a fan now. Really good album.
Sometimes bands that I’m not familiar with get a little old for an entire album all at once. But this was the opposite; the longer I listened the more I wanted to hear more. And that’s really incredible for a double album! As a matter of fact, this is really like two very different albums. The first is rock, and the second is somehow even more moody. They’re both great, but I’m partial to the second one by far.
Nick Cave has consistently been one of the most brilliant artists of the last 40 years. Very few musicians, if any, are hitting creative high water marks like this so deep into their careers. An absolute masterpiece within a career of masterpieces.
so this is the nick cave that deserves all the plaudits. i had formed the impression that grinderman was a complete volte face for nick and everything prior was poetry over drab music, but this has some balls. the downside is it's a bit long, but i'll let it off because i'm nice like that.
It's a two part album but really well combined. Every song is a complete experience but all combined is even better, the only issue I could find is that the album is long, however it is great.
semmone ralli... joo oli erittäin hyviä biisejä suurimmalta osalta mutta muutama vie kyllä alas mutta viekö kovin alas en tiiä nick, nick poika osaa kyllä musiikkia tehdä oli aika rattoisa albumi vähän enemmäön oisi voinut sitä bluessia olla kun keran piti laittaa albumin nimeenkin juu tiiedän että tota on vaan biisin nimi mutta ei se kä clickbait clickbait clickbait hiding all away
most of the songs here are individually really good (i like the gospel influences a lot) but as a whole this album is in a really weird place. it's too disjointed to really flow well at all, but it's too homogenous to use that as a strength (there's not that much difference between abattoir blues and the lyre besides one having electric guitar and one not). it doesnt help that its like 80 minutes long when all the progression is so disjointed. also theres enough albums that arent quite as good as the rest, or just have mediocre sections in them i cant give this anywhere near a bad score and maybe it just wasnt clicking hard enough but i cant help but feel like there was a better album here somewhere. w/e its still good just maybe not all at once
Pretty long (it is a double album). Love the choral elements, Nick's voice works wonderfully with the sound of a full choir. Can be a little repetitive, but gives me the feeling of gospel music at times. 3.5 stars. Favorite tracks: "Hiding All Away", "Supernaturally", "Carry Me", "O Children"
A double album that could (should?) have been a single album. I really enjoyed the songs with the backing choir. Best track: There She Goes, My Beautiful World
An unexpected banger, I love the bass on this album, and of course the lyrics have been amazing. Standouts are Get Ready For Love, Hidden Away, Breathless, and O Children
Very strong as double albums go. Glad to have heard Breathless for the first time in a long time
Much more rock based than the others of his that I’ve heard. Liked this a lot
He did not have to go so hard on There she goes🔥🔥; slow burn until Abattoir where it finds its stride. Title tracks great, good listen.
Very nice album. Two halves sound different which was nice More lively than the more recent stuff I'm familiar with. Great
Kinda Jesus-y? - Maybe just the first song. Pretty rocking though. Feels like something I would've been into in my early 20's. Maybe revisit this.
Couple of tracks I really didn't like but 6 or 7 that I loved (everything from track 5 onwards basically)
Crooning but in a way that I actually didn't mind? Melodic and smooth.
A few stand out tracks. Overall liked it alot more than I thought I would
Slightly weirder rock than I go for, but good. I could see some of these songs on a soundtrack or something.
Vaikken mikään valtava Nick Cave fani olekaan, niin tämä levy on aina maistunut mainiosti. Räväkämmät biisit (Get Ready for Love, Nature Boy, There She Goes My Beautiful World yms) ovat aivan timanttia. Tällä levyllä myös Caven synkistelybiisit toimii paljon paremmin kuin yleensä. Vahva nelonen mutta ei kuitenkaan ihan vitosen arvoinen pienen epätasaisuuden takia.
I listened to Nick Cave once and thought he wasn't for me, but I really liked this album. I'm going to go back and listen to more. Some great moments, and his raw emotion really works for me here.
i can't hear them now without seeing peaky blinders in my mind. this is not a bad thing. i also never really realized how much his voice sounds like richard thompson's.
Vraiment bon. Il y toutes sorte de truc incroyable dans cet album. Une reecoute est de mise mais un bon 4.75*
Not really something I am always listening to, but thats some quality music for sure
What an album! Love the dirgey, bluesy ballads, the dense dark lyrics, the gospel singers, the occasional string arrangements and the head-on collisions with cacophonic guitars on the first disc. Over the years I’ve been an appreciator, but not necessarily a fan of Nick Cave. I'll be listening to this one a lot. I would have given it a 5 but Sue says it's a 4. More like a 9/10.
Lamantablemente no terminé a tiempo de escuchar todo el disco, pero he de decir que me gusta la vibrita malota de varias canciones, a ratos rock star mood a ratos dark folk. Mood: Haciedo rituales ocultistas en un bosque gringo lleno de rednecks.
Really enjoyed this. I like the contrast between the two discs. Much more accessible than I would have thought. I like the story telling in the songs. A previously un-listened to album and artist that I am sure I will be returning to.
I love Nick Cave. But I have always struggled with the first half of this double album. I love the 2nd half. But the 1st half does have my beautiful world on which is majestic tune. 4/5 mainly as the man’s a genius.
Pretty good! I think it slows down a bit during the second album (I prefer the first album/part), but it's still enjoyable enough all the way through.
Enjoyed this. Didn’t know what to think at first. Was way better than I would have imagined. I’m not familiar with any other work he’s done, but this has intrigued me to delve a little further.
Kyllä tämän miehen äänessä tiettyä karismaa on. Levyltä jäi mieleen erityisesti Nature Boy.
Pakko sanoa, etten ollut koko miehestä tahi yhtyeestä kuullut. Tykkäsin kuitenkin musiikista, useampi erittäin miellyttävä biisi!
Kyllähän tää ihan toimii. Levyssä on tavaraa paljon. Tätäkin pitäisi varmaan jaksaa pyöritellä useamman kerran spotifyssa ennenkun aukeaa kunnolla.
Each song is so good, with none feeling out of place. The gospel gives it an extra punch without overstaying its welcome, and the production is exquisite. Enjoyed the first half compared to the second, but still easily my favorite album so far.
Nick Cavella olisi varmasti paljon sellaista tuotantoa, mitä ei ole edes kuullut. Hieno tulkitsija, kova biisinikkari ja varmasti löytyy autotallista siisti Civic. Useampi biisi tarttui levylaukkuun tältäkin levyltä. Melkein teki mieli antaa 5, mutta 4,5 pyöristyy tällä kertaa alaspäin.
Listened without the ability to look at song titles so I can't reference individually (except The Lyre of Orpheus, a high point, and I looked up Spell cause I like the sound of that one too), but overall this is good! It's definitely too much, though I don't remember obvious low points. Think I prefer disc 2 over 1. It's very much a 3.5 and I waffled on which way to split that, but I'll give it a 4 cause it's never bad and it's very good often enough.
Amazing lyrics. Great rock. Hard to pick just three tracks. An exceptional first half, but the second just slows the pace and the songs aren't quite as strong. Best Tracks: Get Ready For Love, Hiding All The Way, There She Goes My Beautiful World
Dark, funny, aggressive, pretty. An accomplished and spellbinding album. Enjoyed every minute of it.
Почему-то в русскоязычной Википедии у альбома стоят такие жанры как "пост-панк", "готик-рок". У меня, конечно, размытые представления об этих жанрах, однако даже ноты ни того, ни сего я вроде бы не услышал. В англоязычной вики вместо "пост-панка" указаны "alternative rock" и "blues rock", что уже больше похоже на правду. Но готик всяко остался. Ну да хуй с ним. Альбом неплох, хорош. Кажется прям дохуя длинным, массивным, жирным. Треки годные, прокачался, но никуда особо сильно не залип. Похоже на то, чему я мог бы при более близком изучении поставить пять. Но ныне по эмоциям пока не настолько сильно отбивается.
Confession time: I've never knowingly listened to a full album by Nick Cave with or without his Bad Seeds. Why is that? Have I been put off by the fanatical devotion him and his Seeds seem to elicit? Maybe. Either way I was wrong and stupid not to.
Have only listened to boatman’s call and ghosteen before and love both. This is a different kettle of cocoa altogether. Much more elecky guitar and rocky riffs. Some beautiful raw emotion in there. I will want to listen to this more as some tracks really caught me. Very fine indeed
I went into this with very low expectations since I had never heard of it and it didn't initially seem like something I would listen to, but I actually really enjoyed it. There she goes, my beautiful world was the real standout for me.
Liked this one only knew their Kylie duo until now. very Richard Thompson
The extreme rock n roll takes your mind to a good place. Nice vocals and instrumental tunes.
Long double album but a great one! Really liked the vibe/atmosphere of the album, every song has its place on the album and is minimum a decent song
I'm a huge Nick Cave fan, and I've listened to Abattoir Blues quite a bit, but I haven't given The Lyre of Orpheus its due in close to a decade as the slower of the two companion pieces. Revisiting it now that Cave has released albums like Ghosteen and Carnage puts it in a very different light. Orpheus is still the weaker half, but it has a warmth not present in some of his more recent somber outings. While I overall prefer the Blixa era of the Bad Seeds, this is still a great album.
-"Get Ready For Love" is very catchy and just great overall. Totally sounds like something right out of the 80's -"Hiding All Away" has some seriously heavy guitar that totally seems like metal, but the song seems overall in the rock category. Very cool -Great heavy drop in in "Fable of the Brown Ape" -I like the subverted expectations on the lines "Orpheus looked at his instrument/And he gave the wire a pluck/He heard a sound so beautiful/He gasped and said 'Oh my God'" -"There She Goes, My Beautiful World" jams -Some songs were pretty cool, some were less cool, but overall it was a solid album
Normaal niet zo een Nick cave fan. Vind hem altijd wat overrated. Dit vind ik wel goed, wat meer up tempo.
The abattoir blues section of this album was awesome. It reminded me a lot of meatloafs bombastic, operatic rock music and I would’ve given it a five. Unfortunately, the second half of the album slows down and becomes much more like the boatman’s call, which I’m less fond of. Overall, it’s still a solid album but the first half is much much better. Fav songs: get ready for love, hiding all away
Slow at times, but good for the right setting. First artist that was new to me.
I've never been able to get into Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. I always found their music to be too dark, too dense and antagonistically difficult to listen to, so I didn't have high hopes for this. I was wrong. It's a great record and one I'll probably listen to again. Not a flawless 5 for me but really good nonetheless. O Children in particular was a standout for me.
Was never a big fan of Nick Cave and really didn't understand why people liked him. After listening to this album I finally got it. Not really my kind of thing, but now at least I understand what the hype was about.
Malo jesam slušo al po sjećanju ocjena. Špiljo je jeben i točka, a u ovom albumu ima pun kurac bezvremenskih hitova.
Bio bih lud da dam trojku, al opet nije ni jaka cetvorka. Drugi dio albuma odnosno The Lyre of Orpheus > prvi dio albuma odnosno Abattoir Blues. Oba super na svoj način, ali više volim The Lyre of Orpheus Cavea.
Jako mi se svidio album od početka do kraja ali mi nešto fali za peticu. Ali inače prekrasan album. Tekst, glazba i gospel zbor su intenzivno vodili ljubav i stvorili ovaj jako lijepi album. Go Australia! 🇦🇺
I was a late getting into Nick Cave and this is where I entered. Driving across the Nullarbor in the late afternoon, chasing the sun, windows down to compensate for the lack of air con and this blasting out, counting the road kill per km to pass the time and the continuous terror of WA road trains.
An epic album, at least in length, but really highlights Cave's strengths as a songwriter and performer. Bowie-esque in parts, but still a distinct and unique sound.
Quite enjoyed this one! A bit too long for my attention span but that's a me problem.
Pas tellement mon genre, mais je comprends le hype autour de Nick Cave. La complexité des compositions et son style unique sont clairement des points à souligner et respecter
Supernatural og O children bra sanger. Veldig poetisk, så må nok sette av en kveld og lese teksten på sangene samtidig som jeg hører på dem
Enjoyed this a lot. Great variety in the music, nick cave has a wonderful voice
If you're a fan this double album (really two separate albums) is one you'll already own. If you're not a fan, try this. If you're not a fan afterwards, go away.
You know, I'm not much of a fan of double albums or albums that clock in over an hour. Not Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus though. This is a surprisingly compelling collection of songs that kept me rapt all the way to the end, it's so well done. It takes a song or two to settle into the mood of this one, which is contemplative, lusty, irreverent and spiritual all at once. But once you get in there, it's a real pleasure to listen to. Personally, I favored the second half of songs (Lyre). Musically the album is gorgeous, with rich arrangements and splendid musicianship. I don't know if Cave or Conway Savage does more of the piano on this album, but it's absolutely lovely. Warren Ellis also adds some real multi-instrumental depth to these songs. I also really like the strong backing vocals, which I didn't initially care for. They really grew on me by the end of the album though. Cave's songwriting is elegant and poetic. As a songwriter, he is among the best of his generation. He has a way of turning a phrase that few songwriters have. Fave Songs: Messiah Ward, Spell, Breathless, Easy Money, Carry Me, Babe, You Turn Me On, Let the Bells Ring, Cannibal's Hymn
I liked the first half better than the second. Some good tunes in here though, and a good introduction to Nick Cave. Interesting guy with a lot of music. Will be returning.
Very good album. Almost too long. Whittled down a little maybe could have been perfect.
Enjoyed this much more thoroughly than The Happy Birthday early days...From the first track was more into this.
It’s a grower. Gets better as it goes on as well, so I guess I prefer The Lyre of Orpheus more than Abattoir Blues Tunes are what you’d expect from Nick Cave. Enjoyed it.
Killer gothic rock. This album is just wall to wall filled with jams and killer songwriting.
For those playing along you may notice I loathe a double album, this one didn’t hurt like normal. First half was a little rocky blusier and the second half more mellow all along feeling like a good gothy time
4/5 25/04/22 I liked how half was headbanging Aussie rock music with a touch of humor, to then be followed with more love music type, the contrast was satisfying. I did not know the song from Deathly Hallows with Harry and Hermione is on the album.
I've had a lot of long albums lately, and finally one that I really want to listen to. I checked this out from the library once and for some reason disc 1 was missing, so I'm actually quite familiar with disc 2 while I haven't really heard disc 1. In any case, I liked both, although after one listen I think I prefer the more nuanced, mellow style of disc 2. Regardless, Nick Cave is never boring. 4 stars.
Interesting album. Would be a great background album. Not something I'd listen to every day, but I liked it more than I didn't like it. I feel like I need half stars. This would be like a three and a half to me.
I’ve never listened to Nick Cave before. This album is quite good and I think it makes me want to do a deep dive into his work.
Like millions of other Nick Cave fans (presumably), my first real taste of The Bad Seeds was hearing O Children on Harry Potter... That might well still be my favourite track on here, but it's got some stiff competition. It's hard to gauge whether there's a thematic concept in each disc or if they're just split on musical lines. Abattoir Blues is the better of the two, with both its loud chaotic bits and loud euphoric bits hitting the spot, but after a couple of listens I believe there's plenty to enjoy on both. The music is very rich but still accessible - much more so than the album title and cover may suggest. Honestly, even as a fan of the artist who was familiar with a few of these tracks I was surprised by how consistently I enjoyed the whole package. 4.5
Abattoir Blues has a raucous noisy start then good bluesy old fashioned rock n roll. Enjoyable. Lyre of Orpheus is more eclectic and perhaps richer for it. A second listen beckons. Overall a good impression.
Lovely stuff. Thanks Nick. I feel like I should have read the lyrics in preparation for listening because the odd line I picked up was highly literate, but snippets here and there didn't coalesce into anything sensible.
I was very excited to listen to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds as they are relatively unknown to me. I enjoyed the music very much and will definitely be giving it multiple replays to figure out which songs I like the best.
This is seriously good and looking at his discography I've got a lot of listening to do. Beautiful arrangement, some amazing blues especially on the first album, I love his use of backing vocals. The second album seems a bit more laid back...Strong.
Anything by Nick Cave and his entourage will be magnificent. This one in particular I have not listened from his catalog and I'm glad to have given it a whirl. For a double record it does an amazing job keeping it interesting for the entire thing. I may need further listens since Nick Cave albums are always so dense but I can already tell I love this.
Let the bells ring é boa. The Lyre of Orpheus tem uma introdução interessante... possível vocal. Breathless. O Children muito boa também. Disco 2 é melhor e tem mais material
Dat koor erbij vind ik geweldig. Doet me aan Leonard Cohen denken. Dit dubbelalbum heb ik een jaar of 15 geleden van mijn geliefde gekregen en heeft een speciale plek in m’n hart.
Prachtig album, prachtige stem. Wat een tragiek heeft Nick in zijn leven.